Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when contracts for operating official motor vehicle inspection facilities are renewed or new contracts are awarded, employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be offered employment first to meet staffing needs. It mandates that job offers to these employees must include compensation and benefits matching the terms of the existing CBA. Additionally, the bill ensures that any collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time remains binding on successors - such as companies acquiring assets or merging - during sales, transfers, or mergers of inspection facility operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act," protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a qualifying PTSD diagnosis, which must be linked to a traumatic event experienced during their duties or vicarious trauma from their job. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior position after leave, and violations allow employees to sue for remedies including $5,000 fines for first violations, reinstatement, back pay, and attorney fees. The civil action must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Police to create a maternity leave policy for troopers who provide proof of pregnancy. It mandates at least eight weeks of fully paid recovery leave after childbirth, with benefits maintained and the leave not counted against sick leave balances. The policy must also prohibit residency restrictions or integrity checks during this leave period, which are typically applied to other medical leave. The State Police Superintendent must post clear details, including required forms, FAQs, and contact information, on the department's intranet. This directly affects current and future female troopers who become pregnant while serving.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2373 (the "New Jersey First Responders PTSD Protection Act"), protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits public employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a PTSD diagnosis verified by a licensed medical professional. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior roles after medical clearance and face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation if they retaliate. The law applies only when PTSD arises from trauma directly tied to job duties, such as witnessing incidents or experiencing vicarious trauma while performing official responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in New Jersey public schools to refer students to private licensed mental health providers (such as psychologists or social workers) for assessments and services. It prohibits referrals to a provider if the school staff or their immediate family has a significant financial interest in that provider. Parents or guardians must consent for students who cannot legally consent themselves, and neither the school district nor the referring staff bears the cost of these private services. The bill does not restrict schools from providing mental health services directly to students. It aims to expand access to mental health care through school-based referrals while maintaining safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "Max's Law," requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction about fentanyl and xylazine dangers in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. The curriculum must cover prevention, symptoms of poisoning, emergency response, and relevant laws protecting those seeking help. School districts must use resources from federal agencies like the CDC and NIH, and the state education department will provide materials and post online resources for staff, students, and parents. The law takes effect immediately, applying to the first full school year after enactment, with annual reports evaluating its impact on youth drug use and poisoning.

Maddy summaryS 4864 allows municipalities, counties, school districts, and fire districts to use project labor agreements for public works projects costing less than $5 million, which is currently the minimum threshold for such agreements under New Jersey law. This bill removes the $5 million cost barrier specifically for these local units, enabling them to voluntarily negotiate project labor agreements on smaller projects without requiring the project to meet the existing threshold. The change does not affect the $5 million requirement for state-level projects or other public entities. Local governments will now have the option to use project labor agreements on projects under $5 million to promote labor stability, cost efficiency, and project completion goals.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5935 bill makes several changes to charter school operations. It requires charter schools to provide application materials in the seven most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficiency students in their district, based on census data. The bill prohibits charter schools from establishing admission criteria for students selected through random selection and mandates student placement liaisons to coordinate student transitions and track enrollment data. Charter schools must also report annual exit data (reasons, dates, placements) and set specific requirements for non-resident students participating in athletics.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities, counties, school districts, and fire districts in New Jersey to voluntarily enter into pre-hire agreements (called project labor agreements) for public works projects costing less than $5 million. Currently, such agreements are only permitted for projects meeting or exceeding the $5 million threshold. The bill does not change the existing $5 million requirement for other public works projects but gives local governments the option to use these agreements for smaller projects if they determine it benefits cost, efficiency, or labor stability. It requires local entities to negotiate agreements in good faith and allows the state labor commissioner to review them for compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3772) changes how the value of employer-provided board and lodging is calculated for workers' compensation benefits in New Jersey. Currently, such benefits are valued at a flat $25 per week unless otherwise specified at hiring. The bill revises this to require valuation at "market value" unless a different amount was agreed upon during hiring. It also specifies that if a worker continues to receive board or lodging during total temporary disability, that value will not be included in calculating their compensation rate. This directly affects workers receiving workers' compensation who are provided housing or meals by their employer.